A New Chronology for the Bronze Age of Northeastern Thailand and Its Implications for Southeast Asian Prehistory

A new chronology for the Bronze Age in Northeastern Thailand, supported by 105 radiocarbon determinations, challenges the traditional model of its origins. The study, using Bayesian statistical analysis, finds that bronze technology likely arrived in Southeast Asia around the 11th century B.C., originating from a southward expansion of expertise from early states in China's Yellow and Yangtze valleys, rather than direct contact with Central Eurasian specialists. This redates key sites like Ban Chiang and Non Nok Tha, providing a more accurate regional timeline for copper-based technology and its social impact.

Higham, C. F. W., Douka, K., & Higham, T. F. G. (2015). A New Chronology for the Bronze Age of Northeastern Thailand and Its Implications for Southeast Asian Prehistory. Plos One, 10(9), e0137542. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137542